Mexico became the first team to secure a place in the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating South Korea 1-0 in Guadalajara on Thursday. The victory also guaranteed Mexico top spot in Group A with one match remaining.
The decisive moment came five minutes into the second half when a defensive mix-up gifted Mexico the winning goal. South Korea goalkeeper Kim Seung-Gyu collided with defender Lee Gi-Hyuk while attempting to deal with a ball inside the penalty area, allowing Luis Romo to pounce on the loose ball and calmly volley it into an empty net.
Although the match lacked attacking quality for long periods, Mexico did enough to secure all three points. Coach Javier Aguirre admitted it was not his team’s best performance but praised their ability to capitalize on a crucial mistake and create a handful of additional chances.
South Korea nearly found an equalizer late in the game. In the 87th minute, Mexico goalkeeper Raúl Rangel produced two outstanding saves in quick succession, first denying Cho Gue-Sung’s close-range header before stretching to keep out the rebound and preserve the lead.
The win moved Mexico to six points from two matches, putting them beyond the reach of the other teams in Group A. South Korea remain on three points, while Czechia and South Africa are further behind after their draw earlier in the day.
The result marks a significant turnaround for Mexico, who failed to advance beyond the group stage at the 2022 World Cup. Playing in front of passionate home support, El Tri have now won both of their opening matches and secured the advantage of remaining on home soil for the next phase of the tournament.
For South Korea, the defeat leaves qualification hopes alive but increases the pressure ahead of their final group match. Coach Hong Myung-Bo described the costly defensive error as unfortunate but insisted his side would regroup and prepare strongly for the next challenge.
